This week we discover a new gene therapy that may end cholesterol problems for many people. We investigate a new method for growing parts of the human heart and we examine a new method for freezing food that will allow it to remain in exactly the same condition as it was prior to freezing . Finally we find yet another use for graphene. Graphene based microchips that are 100 time smaller than the current technology.
Ending Bad Cholesterol
Bad cholesterol increases the risk for heart disease (the leading cause of death) and stroke (the 5th highest cause of death). The market for cholesterol reducing drugs is approximately US$50Billion a year. As the developing world starts adopting a more western diet this market will no doubt increase.
A trial by US biotech Verve Therapeutics on a volunteer in New Zealand has edited the DNA of the patient to lower their bad cholesterol. The treatment is expected to permanently lower the patient’s LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein which is the “bad” version of cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein is known as “good” cholesterol, we all have a mix of both).
The researchers have used a version of the gene-editing tool CRISPR to modify a single letter of the DNA in the patient’s liver cells. This version of CRISPR is different to the original version of CRISPR as it only edits a single letter of DNA and doesn’t cut the gene. The PCSK9 gene found in the liver helps regulate LDL levels in the blood.
The gene editing tool uses a similar transport tool to the one in mRNA technology used in Covid vaccines. The genetic instructions are contained in a nanoparticle that transports them to the required cell. The cell can then assemble a base editing protein, modifying the cell’s copy of PCSK9.
A study on monkeys found that the treatment reduced their cholesterol levels by 60% and that the levels remained low after a year. The effect is expected to be permanent. The next step is for a trial of 40 patients who have the inherited form of high cholesterol, familial hypercholesterolemia. In the long term it is hoped that the vaccine will help the millions of people affected by heart disease and stroke due to high cholesterol.
Growing parts of the Human Heart
Researchers from the University of Toronto and the University of Montreal have reversed engineered a millimeter long vessel that not only beats like a human heart, it also pumps fluid like the muscular exit chamber of a human heart embryo.
The researchers sampled the cardiovascular tissue of a young rat and then grew the cells on a layer of scaffold printed out of polymer with groves for directing the tissue growth. The flat mesh forced the cells to mimic the alignment of heart muscle fibers of a human left ventricle. This is the chamber that pumps blood into the aorta and to the body.
The scaffold produced a 3 layer stack of heart cells. The team then used a cone shaped shaft and rolled the tissue sample into the shape of a ventricle. A series of electric shocks caused the tiny tube of cardiac muscle cells to start beating.
The heart tissue only pumps with about 5% of the pressure of an adult human heart. It is hoped that one day by bulking up the layers that a stronger system may be developed. In time the scaffold could be removed and other human derived tissues added and a fully functioning organ could be developed and potentially transplanted.
The progress to date will allow researchers to study cell function without the need or invasive surgery or animal experimentation. It also allows researchers to screen large libraries of drug molecules for positive and negative effects.
Electric and Magnetic Field Freezers
The current process of freezing foods alters and damages the structure of the food at the cellular level. As the temperature drops, water molecules slow down and ice crystal embryos form ice nucleation sites. From there the ice spreads to freeze the entire piece of food. Water in the food expands by up to 9% when frozen. This causes food cells to rupture. When defrosted, nutrients and flavors leach out from the food (that is the red liquid you see from a warmed piece of red meat).
EverCase, a spin out from the Xerox PARC, has developed an alternate method that they have called “Supercooling”. Based upon the research of Dr. Soojin Jun from the University of Hawaii the technology uses pulsed electric and oscillating magnetic fires to cause water molecules within food stored at sub-zero temperatures to vibrate. This vibration inhibits the formation of ice crystals. The result is that food frozen and stored in this way has the same texture and feel as fresh food (once thawed).
The company is planning to build freezing systems with Supercooling that can be retrofitted into existing freezers. It is likely to be a commercially focused product initially that aims to retrofit the current cold storage supply chain. However there are additional plans to work with refrigeration manufacturers and other OEM’s to build supercooling into a wide range of freezers and refrigerators.
Smaller Microchips
Researchers from the University of Sussex have created the world’s smallest microchip by crinkling graphene. This microchip is 100 times smaller than current microchips.
Using a technology called “straintronics” many more transistors can fit into the same space within our devices. More chips means faster computing. The process is sometimes called nano-origami. Kinks are mechanically made in a layer of graphene. Each kink in the structure acts like a transistor or a logic gate that is used in computing. The process works at room temperature and uses less energy to create.
Manufacturers are close to the limits of the size of traditional semi conductors. This advance will allow our computers and devices to become smaller and faster.
Paying it Forward
If you have a start-up or know of a start-up that has a product ready for market please let me know. I would be happy to have a look and feature the startup in this newsletter. Also if any startups need introductions please get in touch and I will help where I can.
If you have any questions or comments please comment below.
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Till next week.
Ending Bad Cholesterol, Growing Human Hearts and Smaller Microchips
Now that's useful research to improve the standard of living . Editing the cholesterol gene in a mrNa vaccine and then back to unlimited red wine and bacon burgers , instead of lettuce wraps and chai lattes.